Once again this year, the International Munich ArtLab (IMAL) is offering young people a unique opportunity to participate for free in the full process of creating a musical-theater performance. In collaboration with professional artists and educators, participants go through intensive workshops in acting, music, dance, creative writing, acrobatics, and stage expression.
At the center of the program is the international project MOTTO – Music, Openness, Theatre, Tolerance, which uses art to promote openness, exchange, and mutual understanding among youth from different countries. Every aspect of the production is based on the personal interests and life stories of the participants, encouraging individual artistic growth and expression. Every two years, this collaboration results in an original musical-theater performance — from the initial concept and libretto writing to the final public premiere. What makes this project unique is that all ideas and content come directly from the participants themselves. Together with dramaturgs, the material is shaped, recorded in a sound studio, and brought to the stage — a true result of collective creation and learning.
In addition to the artistic work, IMAL fosters a sense of community: every day, two participants prepare a fresh and healthy lunch for the entire group, strengthening bonds and care among each other.
The MOTTO project is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program, with project partners including Artworks gGmbH (Germany), IMAL, and Kulturanova (Serbia).